Railway signaling device.



No, 780,483. I PATENIIID IAN.y I7, 1905.

. I. 0. GARRETT.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 15, 1904. l

' 4'SHBETS-SIIEET 1.

@Hof/11213 PATENT-ED JAN. 17, 1905'.

f No. 780.483.

J, o. GARRBTT. RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.-

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15,1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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/ PATENTBD JAN. 1'7, 19015.

lJ. 0. GARRETT. RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15,1904.

4 sums-snm: a. v

I @Hof/mma No. 780,483. I PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905.

J. 0. GARRETI. 1 v

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLIUATIOH rILnp Nov. A15,1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented January 17, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES O. GARRETT, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,483, dated January17, 1905. Application iled November l5, 1904. Serial No. 232,823.

To all who-m it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs O. GARRETT, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway SignalingDevices; and vI do declare the following tol be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signaling devices ofthe class set forth in Patent No. 761,825, issued to me June 7,

My object is to provide an apparatus adapted to signal trainsapproaching a bridge from either direction in case the bridge has beendestroyed or partially destroyed either by iire or water or in case thewater isso high as to render it dangerous lfor a train to'cross.

These objects are accomplished by mechanism for displaying adanger-signal at opposite ends of the bridge, the signal being allowedto assumethe danger position whenever the bridge is rendered unsafe fortrains through the instrumentality of mechanism which will be fullyunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1is a view on a small scale illustratingmy signaling apparatus in use,the signal being located at a considerable distance from the bridge orculvert. Fig. 2 is a similar view on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is asectiontaken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig4 is a sectionv taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 3, looking in the directionof the arrow. Fig. 5 is a top view of the construction shown in Fig. 4or a view looking in the direction of arrow 5 in said figure. Fig. 6 isa side elevation of the signal proper, shown on a larger scale than inFig. l. Fig. 7 is a View looking in the direction of'arrow 7 in Fig. 6.Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. .3, but showing a modified form ofconstruction.

- The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all theviews.

Let thel numeral 5 designate a bridge located at any suitable point on aline of railway.

Upon the framework of this bridge under-' neath the track is mounted abracket 6, having two depending apertured arms 7, suiiciently separatedto receive two apertured. parts 8, which are shown in the drawings asrings, having projecting lugs 9, to whichare respectively attachedwires, cords, or cables 10, each of which lead `to and are connectedwith an arm 13 of a lever 12, fulcrumed on a post 14, located at anysuitable distance from the bridge 5. To the other'arm 15 `of this leveris attached one extremity of a cord, wire, or rod 16, whose oppositeextremity is connected with the arm 17 of a signal-lever 18 fulcrumed onthe post, as shown at 19. Connected with the lever on the opposite sideof the fulcrum from the connection ofthe part 16 is a weight 20, whoselower extremity is provided with a stem 2l, passing through a guide 22,mounted on the post. The weighted arm of this lever is bifurcated tostraddle 4a lantern 23, the bifurcated parts being provided with redplates of glass 24, whereby when the signal-lever is released its weightcauses it to assume a position in which one of the red-glass parts is oneach side of the lantern and in position to display a red light to atrain approaching from either direction. The lantern is supported upon abracket 25, mounted on the post 14.

Normally the rings or apertured parts 8, connected with the devices 10,as aforesaid, are engaged by a rod 26, whereby the signallevers are heldin the position shown in full lines in Figs. 6 and 7 thus preventing thedisplay of the danger-signal or preventing the bifurcated part of thesignal-lever containing the red-glass parts from occupying positions onopposite sides of the eyes or lenses 27 `of the lantern. This rod 6 isconnected with a lever-like device 28, fulcrumed on the bridge, as shownat 29, and projecting downwardly a suitable distance below the bridge,the said distance beingsufficient to engage the water when the latterrises to a height whereby it becomes dangerous for trains to cross thebridge. The lower extremity of the device 28 is preferably provided witha cross-piece 30 of considerable area in order to form a better surfacefor the action ot' the water. As shown in Fig. 3, this part 30 or' theleverlike device is normally locked in place by a log 31 or otherdevice, which when the water rises will i'ioat and allow the lever 28 tobe actuated. This part 31, as shown in the drawings, is supported by adevice 31a, secured to the bridge. The object oi' the locking` device 3lis to make it diflicult for animals or evillydisposed persons to movethepart 28 or tamper with the signaling apparatus. This log or part 31may be of suilicient weight to make it difficult for animals or personsto move it, but yet be light enough to be quickly raised and washed awayby a iiood, which usually possesses great force. The rod or bar 26 isslotted, as shown at 32, and engages a pin 33, which passes through theslot. This pin is connected with one arm of a bell-crank lever 34,fulcrumed on the frame or' the bridge, as shown at 35, its other armbeing connected With a weight 36. The upper extremity of this weight isprovided with a stem 37, which passes through an eye 38, formed on thebellcrank-lever arm. The upper extremity ot the stem above the eye isprovided with a pulley 39, which engages a support 40, composed of anycombustible material. This may be either an ordinary hemp rope or it mayconsist of some non-stretchable combustible material, as may be desired.In the drawings I have illustrated means for taking up the slack of astretchable cord or rope, whereby the latter is held taut at all timesand the part 40 prevented from slacking. This part 40 normally supportsthe weight 36 in such position that the weight will not act upon thelever 34 to withdraw the rod 26 from engagement with the apertured parts8 of the wires connected with the levers on the signal-post. It will beobserved that the device 28 must be so mounted on the bridge that itwill be allowed to move in` the direction in which the water flowsbeneath the bridge and when moved in that direction, being thatindicated by the arrow A in Fig. 3, .will actuate the rod 26, the part28 being connected with the said rod, as shown at 41, sufficiently todisengage the rod from the parts 8 of the wires 10. When the weight 36is released and allowed to operate this lever 34, the lever will alsoactuate the rod 26 to withdraw it from the parts 8. The slot 32 in therod allows the latter to move in response to the movement or' the part28, while the lever 34 remains stationary. The rod or bar 26 is alsoprovided with a slot 32a to allow the rod to move in response to theaction oi' the lever 34, while the device 28 remains stationary or inthe position held by the log 3l.

In order to prevent the part 40 from stretching sufciently to allow theweight 36 to act,

its extremities are connected with cord or rope members 42, each or'which has one extremity secured to a timber of the bridge, as shown at43, their opposite extremities being connected, as shown at 44, themembers 42 passing around guide-pulleys 45. From the connection 44 arope part 46 passes over a pulley 47. To the lower extremity oi'l thepart 46 is attached a weight 48 or' suiiicient gravity to keep themembers 42 taut, and consequently the part 48 taut at all times. It isbelieved preferable, however, to make the part 40 ot somenon-stretchable material, which is at the same time readilyconlbustible, since by so doing the necessity for taking up the slack inthe part 40 will be overcome.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improveddevice as thus lar described is as follows: Assuming that the waterrises beneath the bridge 5 high enough to make the latter dangerous iorthe passage of trains, the action ot' the water will raise the log 31and the water acting on the device 28 will move the rod 26 suiiicientlyto disengage the apertured parts 8, whereby the weighted signal-leverswill assume the dotted-line position in Fig. 7, whereby the red-glassparts are brought on opposite sides of the two eyes 27 ot' the lantern23, whereby a red light or danger-signal will be displayed to trainsapproaching from either direction. On the other hand, in case the bridgeis on lire as soon as the combustible part 4() is burned in two theweight 36 will act on the lever 34, which in turn will act on the rod 26to release the parts 8, with the same result as heretofore explainedwhen the rod is actuated by the part 28.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 8 the rod or bar 26 isactuated by a iioat 49, located in a casing 50. To the upper cxtremityot' this iioat is attached a rod 51, passing through a guide 52, mountedon the bridge. The upper extremity of this rod 51 is connected with onearm ot a bell-crank lever 53, iulcrumed, as shown, at 54. The other armof this lever is provided with a pin 55, which passes through the slot32" ot' the rod 26. The iioat 49, as shown in the drawings, is hollowand should be so located that when the water rises to a heightsuiiieient to make the bridge dangerous Jor trains the water will act toraise the float, which moving upwardly actuates the bell-crank lever 53and moves the rod 26 in a direction to release the parts 8,where by thesignal is allowed to assume the danger position, as heretoforeexplained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a signalingdevice, the combination with a bridge or support, and a signal propernormally havinga tendency to assume the danger position, of a rodmovably mounted on the bridge or support, an apertured part engaged bythe rod, and a connection between the apertured part and the signalwhereby IOO when the rod engages the saidpart the signal is held out ofthe danger position, and a leverlike device mounted on theV support andprojecting downwardly therefrom a suitable distance, said device beingconnected with the rod forthe purpose set forth.

Q. The combination with a bridge or suitable support, and a signalnormally having a tendency to assume the danger position, a rod slidablymounted on the support, an apertured part engaged by the rod, aconnection between the apertured part and the signal whereby'the latteris held out of the danger position when the rod engages the aperturedpart, a depending leverlike device mounted on the bridge or support andconnected with the rod in operative relation, a lever also fulcrumed onthe support and connected with the rod in operative relation, a weightconnected with the lever, and a combustible part normally supporting theweight to prevent its action on the lever for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with asignal device normally having a tendency toassume the danger position, of a part connected with the signal device,a rod movably mounted and connected to retain and hold the said partwhereby the signal device is prevented from assuming the dangerposition, and two devices for operating the rod to release the said partwhereby the signal is allowed to assume the danger position, the saiddevices being connected with the rod to actuate the latter independentlyof each other, l

4L. The combination with a signa] device normally having a tendency toassume the dangerposition, of an aperturedv part connected with thesignal device, a rod movably mounted and engaging the apertured partwhereby the signal device is prevented from assuming the dangerposition, and two devices for operating the rod to release the aperturedpart, the said devices being connected with the rod to actuate thelatter independently of each other.

5. The combination withasignaldevice norg mally having a tendency toassume the` danger position, of a part connected with the signal device,a rod movably mounted and connected to retain and hold the saidpartwhereby the signal device is prevented from assuming the dangerposition, the rod being provided with v two slots, and twodevicesprovided with pins engaging the slots of the rod in operativerelation, whereby as the devices areV actuated, the rod is operated torelease the said part to allow the signal to assume the danger position,the slots of the rod permitting the said devices t0 actuate the rodindependently of each other.

' 6. The combination with a signal device, of a part connected with thesignal device in operative relation, a rod movably mounted and connectedto retain and hold the part whereby the signal device is held in apredetermined position, two devices connected with the rod to operatethe latter independently of each other, and means for normally holdingthe rodoperating devices inactive for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with a signal device, of a part connected with thesignal device, a rod movably mounted and connected to retain and holdthe said part whereby the signal device is held in a predeterminedposition, a leverlike device connected with the rod in operativerelation, means for normally holding the leverlike device againstmovement, a bell-crank lever having one arm connected with the rod inoperative relation, a weight connected with the other arm and normallyhaving a tendency to-operate the lever to actuate the rod, and

combustible means for supporting the weight to render the leverinactive.

8. rlhe combination with a signal device, of a part connected with thesignal device, a rod movably'mounted and connected to retain and holdthe said part whereby the signal device is held in apredeterminedposition, adepending lever-like device connected with the rod to actuatethe latter sufliciently to release the said part when the lever-like`device is actuated, and a iioat for normally holding the lever-likedevice against movement.

9. The combination with a signal device, of a part connected with thesignal device, a rod movablymounted and connected with the said part toholdthe signal device in a predetermined position, a lever connected inoperative relation with the rod, whereby asthe lever is actuated the rodwill be moved to release the part connected with the signal, a weightconnected with the leverto operate the same, and combustible means forsupporting the weight in the inoperative position.

' 10. The combination with a signal device, of a part connected with thesignal device, a rod movably mounted and connected with the said part tohold the signal device in a predetermined position, a lever connected inoperative vrelation with the rod, whereby as the lever is actuated therod will be moved to release the part connected with the signal, and adevice connected with the lever and projecting downwardly into positionto be moved by the water to actuate the lever. v

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES o. GARRETT."

Witnesses: i

DENA NELSON, A.- J. OBRIEN.

IOO

lIO

